ITAA Salutes President Clinton for Y2K Speech.

ARLINGTON, Va--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 1998--

Group Hails Advent of Administration Leadership on Widespread Computer Snafu Issue

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) today commended President Clinton and Vice President Gore for stepping up to the Year 2000 software crisis. Clinton and Gore addressed the issue in substantive remarks delivered at the National Academy of Science in Washington, DC.

The Year 2000 (or Y2K) challenge relates to the inability of computers and other intelligent devices to interpret the century from information coded in software. As the calendar flips to the Year 2000, computers programs not adjusted to recognize the new century are apt to fail or to make erroneous computations.

ITAA President Harris Miller, who participated in the NAS event, said the long wait for the Administration to become energized on the Year 2000 issue is finally over. "We welcome the President's remarks today and see them as a sign that this Administration is ready to engage on this difficult situation. Y2K Czar John Koskinen is doing yeoman's work, but the dimensions of this problem are mind-boggling. The prestige of the presidency is needed to deal with issues ranging from national and international readiness to small business incentives to liability safeguards. We hope that the President and Vice President will rally the nation and, by so doing, reduce the risks that this unprecedented situation represents to every citizen. Only through recognizing Y2K as a common challenge and a shared responsibility can we hope to find satisfactory solutions."

The President cited a series of Administration Y2K initiatives in his remarks, including a recently launched campaign by the Small Business Administration; Good Samaritan legislation to promote information sharing; a Department of Labor job bank for Y2K workers; a $12 million financial contribution to the World Bank's Y2K program; and a national campaign on the issue to be initiated later this month by the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion. Clinton also issued three challenges to the private sector during his remarks: that every business must take responsibility for its own Y2K compliance, that businesses share information on the issue, and that businesses communicate their Y2K status to customers.

"This is a good start," Miller said, "we are on the right road--and success or failure may determine our common destiny. Because here is the bottom line: Year 2000 is the most pressing technology issue government and industry will face in the next two years. A recent survey we commissioned from Wirthlin Worldwide found that almost one in four Americans believe that Year 2000 computer related failures may force them to undergo lifestyle changes. As the President correctly observes, no government, company or industry can do it alone. We are all in this together. And now the world's most important player is in the game."

ITAA consists of 11,000 direct and affiliate members throughout the U.S. which produce products and services in the IT industry. The Association plays a leading role in public policy issues of concern to the IT industry, including taxes, intellectual property, telecommunications law, encryption, securities litigation reform, and human resources policy. ITAA members range from the smallest IT start ups to industry leaders in the software, services, systems integration, telecommunications, Internet, and computer consulting fields. Learn more about ITAA and its positions on the issues by connecting to its home page at http://www.itaa.org.

    CONTACT: ITAA
              Bob Cohen, 703-284-5333 or [e-mail]